What to Know About Pope Leo’s Lung Cancer Diagnosis
By Daniel Okafor · Reporting from New York ·
After lung surgery at Gemelli hospital, Pope Leo XIV plans to proceed with a demanding tour, a choice that risks his recovery when he should stay in Rome.
Pope Leo XIV is 71 years old. He has lung cancer. On Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, surgeons at Gemelli hospital in Rome removed the lower lobe of his right lung. This was a radical resection to eliminate a cancerous growth. The Vatican acted properly by disclosing the diagnosis. However, the plan to fly 19,000 miles three weeks after a lung resection is a mistake. The pope is risking his health and the stability of the papacy for a travel schedule.
A radical resection at Gemelli
The surgery took place at Gemelli hospital. Dr. Stefano Margaritora led the surgical team, and Vatican News said the operation lasted 90 minutes.
The diagnosis is adenocarcinoma, a type of non-small cell lung cancer. NBC News said the pope is not known to have ever been a smoker. Doctors discovered the nodule during regular checks. The pope announced the finding during his Sunday prayer, telling the public that doctors believed it best to take action.
The Vatican canceled all papal audiences through Oct. 20 because the surgery requires a weeklong hospital stay. The pope is staying in a room near the papal apartment while the apartment undergoes renovations. Cardinal Baldassare Reina, the vicar of Rome, asked for prayer to sustain the bishop. Archbishop Ronald Hicks of New York City said the surgery was successful.
The itinerary brings risk
The calendar remains full. On Nov. 6, the pope plans to leave for Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru. Al Jazeera said the trip involves 12 flights and two helicopter rides, with sharp altitude changes in Peru.
Advocates for the trip will point to the pope's health. He routinely swims and plays tennis. The nodule was small and localized. They will argue that a successful surgery allows for a quick return to duty.
Yet a radical resection of a lung lobe remains a major intervention. Altitude changes in Peru create a severe respiratory risk. Regular swimming and tennis cannot offset the physical toll of repeated flights. The pope is prioritizing a tour over a cautious recovery.
Will missionary drive risk recovery?
The pope was born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago and spent two decades as a missionary in Peru. Euronews said he holds Peruvian citizenship. This history drives his desire to return. He views the surgery as a way to preserve his travel plans.
In a 2025 interview, the pope spoke of a previous fever in Peru. He said, "If this is your sense of humor, Lord, I think you could do a little better." That resolve to serve in the field defines his 17-month papacy.
Pope Francis's colon surgery followed a similar path. Both men managed a planned surgical procedure and recovery while maintaining the papacy.
The facts show a man who refuses to let an illness slow him down. Adenocarcinoma requires care that frequent flights and high altitudes cannot provide. The Vatican is gambling with the stability of the Holy See. If the cancer returns or the recovery fails, the cost is far higher than a canceled trip. The pope should stay in Rome.
Sources
- NBC News: Vatican says pope has lung cancer and had part of his right lung removed
- Vatican News: Pope Leo XIV undergoes successful lung surgery
- Al Jazeera: Pope Leo diagnosed with cancer after surgery to remove part of lung
- Euronews: Pope Leo XIV undergoes successful operation to remove nodule from lung, Vatican says